As I watched the game unfold from my press box seat at McWhorter Stadium, it was clear that the Clemson Tigers were determined to extend their home win streak to 24 games. Behind a dominant performance at the plate and on the mound, the Tigers secured a 9-1 victory against the Charlotte 49ers.
The game started off strong for Clemson, with McKenzie Clark and Maddie Moore delivering back-to-back singles in the first inning. Caroline Jacobsen brought Clark home with a single to give the Tigers the early lead. However, the 49ers quickly responded in the second inning, taking advantage of an error to tie the game at 1-1.
But the Tigers would not be denied. In the bottom of the third inning, Clark notched her second hit of the night and advanced to third on a stolen base. Jacobsen hit a double to left field to bring Clark home and give Clemson a 2-1 lead.
The game remained close until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Tigers exploded for seven runs. Reedy Davenport reached on a fielding error, and Clark stepped up to the plate and launched a two-run homer that plated pinch runner Ansley Houston. The momentum continued with RBI doubles from Valerie Cagle and Jacobsen, followed by an RBI single from Aby Vieira. Arielle Oda sealed the deal with a two-run homer, her first of the season, to give the Tigers the 9-1 victory.
Cagle was impressive in the circle, striking out eight batters and allowing only three hits. The redshirt junior tossed her eighth complete game of the season and improved to 11-1.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 26-1 overall and continue to dominate on their home turf. The team will look to keep the momentum going as they take on Virginia in a three-game series starting on Friday, March 17th.
